Cost of Living Comparison Between Prague and Plzen Cost of Living Comparison Between Prague and Plzen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,161 in Prague versus $1,818 in Plzen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,140 in Prague versus $2,583 in Plzen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,119 in Prague versus $3,348 in Plzen.

Living in Prague is roughly 19% more expensive than in Plzen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Prague 57% above, Plzen 32% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95 Kč 250
$11.94 Kč 249
0.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.2 Kč 1,112
$58.7 Kč 1,226
-9.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.69 Kč 223
$9.74 Kč 204
9.75%
Cappuccino
$3.89 Kč 81.3
$3.31 Kč 69.2
17.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 Kč 42.62
$2.19 Kč 45.72
-6.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 Kč 31.43
$1.87 Kč 39.00
-19.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.37 Kč 70.5
$2.90 Kč 60.7
16.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 Kč 70.9
$2.95 Kč 61.6
15.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 Kč 23.74
$1.16 Kč 24.24
-1.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 Kč 36.37
$1.70 Kč 35.44
2.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.55 Kč 53.3
$3.15 Kč 65.9
-19.05%
Eggs
$3.92 Kč 81.9
$4.25 Kč 88.8
-7.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.37 Kč 258
$14.96 Kč 312
-17.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.99 Kč 188
$10.61 Kč 222
-15.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.42 Kč 322
$16.63 Kč 347
-7.28%
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 Kč 41.31
$2.23 Kč 46.62
-11.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.88 Kč 39.18
$1.89 Kč 39.54
-0.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 Kč 49.13
$2.39 Kč 49.83
-1.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.82 Kč 79.9
$3.69 Kč 77.0
3.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 Kč 22.94
$1.31 Kč 27.45
-16.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 Kč 21.75
$1.34 Kč 27.93
-22.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 Kč 35.19
$1.66 Kč 34.73
1.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 Kč 17.10
$0.82 Kč 17.22
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.06 Kč 168
$7.06 Kč 147
14.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.01 Kč 147
$7.25 Kč 151
-3.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 Kč 26.82
$1.40 Kč 29.34
-8.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 Kč 42.69
$1.85 Kč 38.63
10.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Prague
Plzen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.82 Kč 37.93
$1.39 Kč 29.01
30.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.08 Kč 545
$28.26 Kč 590
-7.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 Kč 61.6
$2.10 Kč 43.79
40.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 Kč 34.70
$1.45 Kč 30.30
14.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.35 Kč 425
$14.46 Kč 302
40.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 Kč 42.24
$1.83 Kč 38.17
10.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K Kč 681.4K
$31.3K Kč 653.6K
4.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K Kč 723.9K
$31.5K Kč 658.0K
10.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$308 Kč 6,425
$286 Kč 5,975
7.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.69 Kč 537
$18.17 Kč 380
41.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.00 Kč 480
$17.18 Kč 359
33.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.7 Kč 1,457
$64.6 Kč 1,349
7.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Kč 391
$15.27 Kč 319
22.66%
Cinema Ticket
$13.97 Kč 292
$12.17 Kč 254
14.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,091 Kč 22.8K
$336 Kč 7,027
224.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.3K Kč 403.6K
$11.4K Kč 237.4K
70.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.2 Kč 2,052
$84.8 Kč 1,772
15.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.54 Kč 1,035
$45.92 Kč 959
7.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 Kč 2,560
$90.6 Kč 1,892
35.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 Kč 2,887
$118 Kč 2,468
16.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prague
Plzen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,163 Kč 24.3K
$750 Kč 15.7K
54.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,009 Kč 21.1K
$722 Kč 15.1K
39.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,306 Kč 48.2K
$974 Kč 20.3K
136.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,638 Kč 34.2K
$961 Kč 20.1K
70.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,853 Kč 205.8K
$5,137 Kč 107.3K
91.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,477 Kč 156.2K
$4,348 Kč 90.8K
71.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,438 Kč 50.9K
$1,956 Kč 40.9K
24.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.72
4.73
-0.21%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Prague: September 8, 2026

Last update for Plzen: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,163 in Prague and $750 in Plzen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Prague pays 25% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $53.0 in Prague vs $59.0 in Plzen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $305 per month, with Prague cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Prague vs Plzen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Plzen cheaper than Prague?
Plzen is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Prague or Plzen?
Average pay runs 25% higher in Prague, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Prague and Plzen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,163 in Prague versus $750 in Plzen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Prague or in Plzen?
Dining out is cheaper in Plzen – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $53.0 in Prague. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Prague and in Plzen?
All in, you'll spend $2,161 per month in Prague versus $1,818 in Plzen – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Prague or in Plzen?
At $1,818 in Plzen versus $2,161 in Prague, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Plzen but tight or insufficient in Prague. The gap between the two cities makes Plzen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Prague or Plzen more family-friendly?
For families, Plzen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Prague, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Prague or Plzen?
Safety-wise, Prague and Plzen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Plzen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Prague. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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